Chapter 86: Each Playing Their Hand (I)
The Good Music Hotel sat quietly among the urban sprawl on the outskirts of the city.
Wang Qian and his three companions from Slaughter Cessation Palace had relocated to this place. The hotel served as one of the Palace's key safehouses in Songhai, and its operator was a fellow member of the organization.
Many independent Walker groups preferred to set up safehouses in hotels and restaurants wherever they operated. Compared to private residences, these establishments were far better suited for sheltering large numbers of people and hosting meetings. Since they owned the premises, there was no need to worry about surveillance equipment either.
Of course, this only held true during times of relative peace. When facing large-scale official manhunts, hotels and restaurants actually became liabilities, since Public Security Officers would inevitably sweep through them one by one. However, searching every hotel and guesthouse across Songhai was beyond the Five Elements Alliance's ability. Only the Public Security Bureau possessed the resources for such a massive undertaking.
Wang Qian and A Chinese Odyssey's group believed that while the Xiahou family's roots ran deep and their connections to the authorities were extensive, they still lacked the clout to command the entire Bureau. The Public Security Bureau and the Five Elements Alliance operated as equals in a cooperative relationship. The former maintained social order, while the latter governed the affairs among Spirit Realm Walkers. Even the Alliance had no authority to issue orders to the public security apparatus, let alone a single noble Walker family.
Inside the suite, A Chinese Odyssey lay sprawled across the couch, snoring away. Free Spirit, still in her jeans and black crop top, sat cross legged in front of the television, fully absorbed in her video game. The pale-faced Heaven and Earth had his eyes closed and his headphones over his head, lost in his music.
Wang Qian stood by the window, watching the street below, glancing at his phone every few moments. He kept telling himself it was too soon, far too soon. Even if Yuanshi Tianzun was willing to help, these things took time. Still, he couldn't stop checking.
"Relax," Heaven and Earth said, opening his eyes to glance at Wang Qian. "If anything happens to your sister, we'll just hunt down the Xiahou family's people."
There it was again, his signature orphan strategy, hot tempered and extreme. Wang Qian shook his head. Heaven and Earth's personality was truly radical. He was the type to repay a drop of kindness with a fountain of gratitude, but if someone wronged him, he wouldn't hesitate to drag them into the grave along with himself. He gravitated toward extremes with frightening ease. Even within Slaughter Cessation Palace, a temperament so volatile was considered rare.
Wang Qian set down his phone once more, staring silently out the window. A notification chime broke the silence, and a jolt ran across his face. He quickly snatched up the phone.
Yuanshi Tianzun: Your sister is safe.
The words hit him like a thunderbolt. Wang Qian's face flushed with excitement, scarcely able to believe what he was reading. "Boss! Boss! Yuanshi Tianzun messaged me back!"
A Chinese Odyssey's body jerked, startled awake by the shouting.
All three companions gathered around Wang Qian. Their team leader stared at the phone screen, but rather than relief, his expression turned grave. "It's a trap. It has to be. Even if he agreed to help, there's no way he could have rescued your sister this quickly."
Free Spirit frowned, her brow creasing with suspicion as a flicker of disappointment crossed her face. "Exactly. Given how little time it's been, just finding your sister would be nearly impossible. Unless, he already knew where she was being held. If that's the case, this person might be Xiahou Tianyuan's accomplice."
Wang Qian thought for a moment, then typed back a message: Really?
A few seconds later, there was another chime. Yuanshi Tianzun had sent a voice message.
Wang Qian tapped it immediately.
—Wang Qian, I've been rescued by the Public Security Officers. I'm on my way to the Kangyang District Bureau right now.
It was his sister's voice.
Wang Qian's eyes reddened instantly. Joy and relief crashed over him in waves. He'd spent the entire day with his heart in his throat, and now the crushing weight was finally lifted from his chest.
A Chinese Odyssey's face was pure astonishment. She was actually rescued? That was absurdly efficient.
When he'd suggested that Wang Qian reach out to Yuanshi Tianzun, he'd been banking on the man's official connections. Even if they couldn't rescue anyone, they might gather useful intelligence and apply some pressure against the Xiahou family. That would allow Slaughter Cessation Palace to formulate a plan, based on whatever information Yuanshi Tianzun fed back to them. He'd never imagined the man would simply get it done. Was he really just a talented rookie? And not the scion of some Five Elements Alliance bigwig?
Free Spirit let out a breath of relief and patted Wang Qian on the shoulder. "You can stop worrying now. This Yuanshi Tianzun is actually pretty reliable. Find a chance to call home later and confirm whether your sister really has been rescued."
She was still speaking when the phone rang. It was Yuanshi Tianzun. Wang Qian immediately looked over at A Chinese Odyssey, seeking his leader's approval. The man deliberated for a few seconds, then gave a slight nod.
Wang Qian cautiously answered the call. "Yuanshi Tianzun?"
The voice that came through the speaker was his sister's. Her voice was laced with urgency and anxiety, questions tumbling out one after another.
—Wang Qian, I'm fine now. Where are you? Why did you suddenly stop going to work? The people who kidnapped me seemed to be looking for you. Did you borrow money from loan sharks?
"Sis, don't worry. I'll come home soon." Wang Qian offered a few words of comfort before hearing a young man's voice on the other end.
—Give me the phone.
Then, Yuanshi Tianzun's voice came through.
—Now isn't the time for a family catch-up. Wang Qian, I need to speak with your superior.
He deliberately avoided mentioning "Slaughter Cessation Palace" with Wang Qian's sister present.
Wang Qian glanced at A Chinese Odyssey. "Why?"
Zhang Yuanqing's tone was calm, almost indifferent.
—When I rescued your sister, my identity was exposed. The Xiahou family will absolutely hold a grudge against me. You people should take some responsibility for that. Besides, I saved your sister once, but I can't do it a second time. What if the Xiahou family goes after your family again? Or targets the families of other members? What will you do then?
—We're all tied to the same rope now. It's time to fight back. Of course, if you're too weak and would rather hide like turtles, then forget I said anything.
Wang Qian covered the mouthpiece and looked to his companions. A Chinese Odyssey wavered with indecision, while Free Spirit whispered, "I think we should talk to him. Let me handle it."
At times like these, the importance of rapport became abundantly clear.
"No, let me," A Chinese Odyssey said. "Have faith in my ability to read people. I'll have a chat with him."
He took the phone and deliberately pitched his voice low, forcing it into a deep, gravelly rasp. "Yuanshi Tianzun, there's no need for the goading tactics."
The man on the other side of the line perked up immediately.
—And you are?
"A Chinese Odyssey. The Holy Hand's superior."
—Oh my god, that ID is incredible. I love it!
There was a flood of excitement in the young man's voice.
A Chinese Odyssey blinked, then said happily, "I also think it's a great name. When I was choosing it, I agonized for ages..."
He caught himself and coughed. "Ahem, back to business. I understand what you're getting at, but until the Palace Master issues an order, we won't make a move."
—Fine then, I'll deal with the Xiahou family myself. Fighting war with war, meeting killing with killing. That's my motto. You people still fall short. Maybe consider changing your name.
"Bullshit!" Heaven and Earth erupted in fury. "Of course our organization has ways to deal with this, but they're in the palace master's hands. And ever since Palace Master clashed with the Xiahou family's Enforcement Squad captain, she hasn't appeared."
A Chinese Odyssey shot him an angry glare. Slaughter Cessation Palace's people really were hotheaded. So much for ineffective goading tactics...
***
On the other end of the line, Zhang Yuanqing heard the interruption and smiled. "What methods are you talking about?"
Based on Guan Ya's analysis, the Xiahou family's relentless pursuit of Slaughter Cessation Palace was deeply suspicious. From the looks of it, there was definitely more to the story.
He heard A Chinese Odyssey draw a deep breath.
—We believe the palace master entered a dungeon instance, which is why she told us to go into hiding. As for what methods, I don't know, and even if I did, I couldn't tell you. How about this? I'll try to contact the palace master soon and report everything that's happened. It'll be up to her whether she wants to reach out to you to offer compensation or cooperation. We truly can't act on our own.
Wait, no, don't contact me. Contact Fu Qingyang instead. I really don't want to deal with crazy people, Zhang Yuanqing thought to himself as he felt his courage waver, though his voice remained perfectly composed.
"I look forward to it!" he said, then hung up, feeling a slight sense of relief.
In this matter, he had thoroughly offended the Xiahou father and son. Retaliation was inevitable. Though the official merit that he had gained would prevent the Xiahou family from making any overt moves, they could certainly act in the shadows, and there was no shortage of underhanded schemes at their disposal. He absolutely had to take down both Xiahou father and son this time, or at the very least ensure they could never recover.
Unfortunately, relying solely on the Five Elements Alliance was not a reliable strategy. The intertwined interests and entanglements ran too deep. He needed a two-pronged approach, which involved seeking leverage from outsiders. That was precisely why he'd demanded to speak with Wang Qian's superior, to open a dialogue with Slaughter Cessation Palace's upper echelon.
***
A Chinese Odyssey handed the phone back to Wang Qian. "He hung up."
The hot girl looked at him, then at Wang Qian, then at Heaven and Earth. Her expression had shifted to one of distinct distrust.
A Chinese Odyssey frowned. "What's wrong?"
"So who exactly was manipulating whom just now?" Free Spirit said, her expression completely flat.
A Chinese Odyssey, Wang Qian, and Heaven and Earth looked at each other in silence.
